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Banffites increase recycling

Banff residents are doing a better job of recycling, but generating slightly more garbage than in the past.

Banff residents are doing a better job of recycling, but generating slightly more garbage than in the past.

Strides to meet the goals of the community plan were generally flat in 2010 compared to 2009 trends, but the new Community Measures report shows recyclables diverted from the landfill was up 35.5 per cent over 2009.

Garbage to landfill was up 1.53 per cent from the 2009 to 6,119 tonnes, translating to 247.4 kg per person, while sundry waste, such as furniture and construction waste, sent to landfill was up 25 per cent.

“Our biggest success story is in waste diversion,” said Diana Waltmann, the Town of Banff’s communications manager. “We created a bit more garbage per person, but we diverted more of it from landfill.”

The annual Community Measures report tracks key environmental, community and economic indicators year over year to see how the community is doing on implementing the goals of the community plan.

The calculation for 2010 is based on a population that takes into account not only 8,721 residents, but more than three million visitors.

The annual report also shows residents are using slightly more water per person, but slightly less energy; public transit costs are up, but still using less tax dollars than most other public transit system.

In 2010, water consumption per person increased four per cent over 2009 at a greater rate than population growth, for a total of 294 litres of water per person per day compared to 282 litres in 2009.

Electrical and natural gas consumption per person decreased slightly over 2009, following three years of increases.

As for public transportation, the number of riders on Roam increased one per cent over 2009 and, while public fares remained the same, the cost of running the system increased by five per cent.

Park visitation was up by 20,000 to 3,134,378 over 2009, while 26 events were permitted or hosted by the Town in 2010 compared to 24 the previous year.

Participation in community classes was down six per cent, perhaps an indicator of the economy and its impact on residents’ discretionary spending. Users of social programs were up one per cent and the number of volunteers was up one per cent over 2009.

The full report is available on the Town of Banff’s website.


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